Adornment

Adornment, ‘the act or process of making someone or something attractive by decorating’, is the theme for the latest collection on display at Lord Coconut.

For as long as human beings have existed, we have sought to adorn ourselves to display status and beauty. Temporary ornaments such as jewellery and permanent markings including tattoos have been observed since before recorded history.

Animal bones have played a special role in adornment from hunter-gatherer times until now. In ancient China they were decorated with inscriptions and put to the flame in a practice of divination; a way of communicating with their Gods. Many cultures believe people embody the traits of different animals.

Jewellers, artisans and designers have been given a found bone and instructed to adorn it in a masculine way, or use the bone when producing a piece of adornment for men, especially jewellery. The resulting works will be featured in this upcoming Adornment exhibition. The exhibition is a comment on the current explosion of body adornment, both permanent and temporary, as seen in fashion today.

Lord Coconut is presenting a new take on this time-honoured tradition as part of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2014.

CHIMERA BY AMANDA FOX

Materials: Bone, polymer clay, sterling silver and brass

Size: 15cm x 7cm x 5cm

Cost: $429

AZLAN BY SUSE SCHOLEM

Azlan is a commemorative mask in the style of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which honours, grieves and celebrates those who have passed. It is a sculptural piece made using the ultimate symbol of death – bone.

Azlan brings new life to the pelvic bone of a wallaby found in the Nullabor Desert, adorned with onyx cabochons and recycled silver.

DON’T LEAVE, STAY INSTEAD: ‘AN ODE TO DESIRE’ BY AIMEE SUTANTO

We humans tend to be driven by the desire to possess. But things do change, they wither and they fade, they progress and at best our desire remain. We beg and we pray, that things remain unabated. and with that we constantly persevere, ironically by changing them, embellishing them, because in the end, adorning them is the only way to maintain our desire. Because it is our desire and not them, that is important to us.

Materials: sheep bone, sterling silver, paint, rubber, glue

Size: 7.5cm x 4.5cm x 1cm with 50cm leather cord

Cost: $385

BONE PENDANT BY MELISSA BALDOCK

Materials: sterling silver and leather

Size: 2.5cm x 2cm x 1.5cm with adjustable cord

Cost: $165

BONE STUD BY MELISSA BALDOCK

Materials: sterling silver

Size: 1.5cm x 1cm x 0.5cm

Cost: $80

BONE CHAIN BRACELET BY MELISSA BALDOCK

Materials: sterling silver

Size: approx 1.5cm wide and 20cm long

Cost: $330

SPARE BY FIONA MELLER

Materials: sterling silver and bone (rib)

Size: Bone 15cm wide and chain 13cm long each side

Cost: $880

HEART OF BONE BY BETH CROCE

Materials: cow bone and silver/gold plated findings

Size: 6cm x 3cm with 60cm cord

Cost: $260

‘AUDACES FORTUNA IUVAT’ BY EMMA LUKE

This piece was inspired by a Hunter S Thompson quote: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, ttally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!’

CROWN BY PATRICIA DENIS

Materials: Cat pelvis, vintage book paper collage

Size: 11.5cm x 16.5cm x 4cm

Cost: $314

FOREVER IS COMPOSED OF NOWS BY EMILY BECHER

All too often people spend their days in misery working towards a future on the horizon, a future that will pass them by when they get to it because they’ll always be looking beyonf the present and on towards this dream of better days. This collection of work I’ve created for ‘adornment’ is to remind the wearer to live in the present, make their life what they want it to be….NOW.

VULPES VULPES SACRUM BY MAX HONIGSBERG

PIMPED BY DAN MCGILL

Materials: Bone and gold

Size: 14cm x 7cm x 6cm

Cost: $150

CREATURE REMAINS BY EUFEMIA COPPI

Modern life is fast, hectic and chaotic; individuals can be absorbed and focused within their daily routine that they can bypass beautiful aspects around them. Being artificial or natural. I enjoy making objects that invite further exploration. Revealing hidden elements on closer inspection that may not be apparent at first glance. Rewarding those who are curious. Portraying the rarity and preciousness of a handmade item. As a practising graphic designer and maker I cross over two areas. interweaving and evidently informing the work I create whether it is visual communications or object making. My pieces are very whimsical. taking on organic and natural like features. Constructing work from found industrial and natural materials; which are often that not combined with precious and semi-precious metals. The pieces take on a life of their own